The controversy surrounding the now-infamous “Macron slap” has erupted once again, after explosive new claims from French journalist Florian Tardif shed dramatic light on what may have unfolded behind the closed doors of the French presidential aircraft during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Vietnam in May 2025.
Months after the Élysée Palace attempted to contain the storm, the incident has returned to the spotlight with the release of a new book titled “An (Almost) Perfect Couple,” published by the French house Albin Michel. The book dives deep into the political and private life of Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, relying on testimonies and accounts from sources reportedly close to the corridors of power.
During a televised interview, journalist Florian Tardif delivered a striking claim: the scene captured on camera was “far from harmless joking,” contradicting the official narrative presented at the time.
According to Tardif, tension erupted after Brigitte Macron allegedly discovered what he described as “intimate” and “emotionally charged” conversations on the president’s phone involving French-Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani. One message reportedly included Macron telling the actress that he found her “very beautiful,” triggering a heated confrontation between the presidential couple that allegedly continued until the aircraft door opened before the waiting cameras.
The footage that followed — showing Brigitte Macron’s hand moving sharply toward the president’s face — instantly ignited a frenzy across social media. Some viewers described it as a direct slap fueled by anger, while others dismissed it as playful interaction taken wildly out of context.
What intensified the mystery even further were Tardif’s claims that sources close to the Macron family described the president’s relationship with Farahani as “particularly close” for several months — a detail that has only deepened speculation about what may truly be happening behind the walls of the Élysée.
Yet despite the growing buzz, no concrete evidence has surfaced to support the allegations. Tardif offered no screenshots, documents, or verified proof of the alleged exchanges, relying instead on unnamed insiders “within the circles of power.”
Meanwhile, French newspaper Le Parisien reported that people close to Brigitte Macron strongly denied the claims, insisting that France’s first lady does not search through her husband’s phone. The same sources reportedly told the author months earlier that the accusations were false, though they claim their denial was not fully reflected in the book.
The Élysée Palace has also firmly maintained its original position, denying any dispute between the president and his wife and insisting the viral moment was nothing more than a natural and playful exchange before an official visit.
As for Golshifteh Farahani, she has repeatedly denied any romantic involvement with the French president, dismissing the rumors as baseless speculation recycled by the media.
Still, despite the official denials, the “slap on the presidential jet” continues to haunt headlines and fuel public fascination. In a story where politics collides with private life, one unsettling question refuses to disappear: was it truly an innocent moment caught at the wrong angle… or did the cameras capture a rare crack inside France’s most powerful couple?
